Staying Put
11 December 2010 | Fernandina Beach
Bligh- waiting for the front
December 11, 2010
It is just past 0500 and Bear is still asleep. That is a good thing since she gets the rack to herself and all the cover. At night, we like to keep the boat cold even if we have shore power. Sort of reminds us of when we were little and the only heat source was in the kitchen. Anyway, the crew is up to speed with the exception of weather related throbs and pains such as when fronts approach. Gee, shouldn't Florida be immune to that? Frontal passages that it? That said, we decided to stay a bit longer in this place since we can be cold here as well as south of here and it is cold all the way to Miami.
Methinks the alternator replacement went according to plan yesterday and it only took one trip to the hardware store. That may be a record. It points out the fact that one cannot plan for all contingencies. The big decision was whether or not to discard the old alternator, all 15 pounds of it. Contrary to my usual practices of keeping something broken for several years then tossing it, in a moment of weakness, I walked past a dumpster and tossed it in. Why Knot thanked me for that.
The winds are howling and the Hinkley ketch behind us with the in-mast furling is amplifying the howl with the slots in the mast acting like low note whistles. One would think the winds are straight from some werewolf movie. I think it actually makes Bear sleep better. The wind, the pumps, and the normal boat sounds are something that makes sleeping aboard interesting. IF something changes, the crew knows instantly whether deep asleep or not. That is a comfort and at times source for some midnight searches. Lay that sauce bottle down on its side and it might awaken one at 0400 just clicking side to side in the pantry. Coffee is done and so am I. Have a great day.
SV Breezin' completed her return from Texas to Clearwater, Florida after over a month underway. The last of it was a two day sail from Panama City to Clearwater offshore, solo. She made an anchorage in Clearwater just short of a dock at 0500 or thereabouts today. Well done! Enjoy the nap.